House Speaker Nancy Pelosi downplayed Thursday the anti-incumbent mood around the country.

Washington (CNN) - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, acknowledged Thursday that there is an anti-Washington sentiment in the country, but downplayed any impact the public's mood would have on Democrats in this November's midterm elections.

"There's no question, there's, at this point, an anti-incumbent mood," the leading House Democrat said during her weekly news conference. "But I have confidence that my members know how to speak, communicate with their districts, and I wouldn't tell them to do anything less than work as hard as they possibly can, assume nothing, but don't be dragged down by assumptions that may or may not apply to them."

But House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, pointed to the House Democrats' lack of progress on an annual budget as evidence that they are ignoring the public's frustration with those in charge of Congress.

"The American people are deeply concerned about Washington Democrats' out-of-control spending spree. And quite frankly, it's just scaring the hell out of them," Boehner said during his weekly press appearance.

The leading House Republican argued that this sentiment will help the GOP's efforts to win back control of the House. And Boehner maintained that 100 seats are in play this November - more than double the amount Republicans would need to take become the majority.

"It really begins with regaining the trust of the American people. They've pretty well decided at this point that the Democrat spending spree here in Washington is hopeless, and so they're giving us a second shot." Boehner said.

In a week where two incumbent members of Congress lost their bids for re-election, a new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll released Thursday shows Americans' opinion of Washington is low. When asked if they "trust the government in Washington," almost a third said they "almost never" do and 44 percent said they do "only some of the time."

Democratic Rep. Alan Mollohan of West Virginia, a 14-term incumbent and a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, lost his primary battle Tuesday to Democratic State Sen. Mike Oliverio. On Saturday, Republican Sen. Bob Bennett of Utah lost his bid for a fourth term after failing to get enough votes at the GOP state convention to compete in the primary.

Pelosi noted Mollohan's loss was to another Democrat, but said when it comes to politics, "I take nothing for granted." But the Speaker argued that the battle for control of Congress will be decided one race at a time, not based on a national mood, and vowed Democrats will have the resources to compete in the fall.

but then again, you can't expect this from a bunch of SAN FRAN morons.

May 13, 2010 05:13 pm at 5:13 pm |

GI Joe

Truth – I think you will find that Bush/Cheney wiped their butts with our constitution. If memory serves me, all our money and dead kids for the weapons in Iraq should make you sick - but you must be a fear,hate,war-mongering tea-bagger. Spill baby spill, or is that nukebaby nuke????

NOT AGAIN. No more republicans.

May 13, 2010 05:13 pm at 5:13 pm |

Save America, impeach the treasonous republicans

How does one get a wingnut to read the constitution and discover that Bush and his cronies trashed it?

May 13, 2010 05:17 pm at 5:17 pm |

LacrosseMom (the real one)

As usual I am amazed at the ignorant comments posted here by conservatives! The far-right-hater-talking-heads have done more to damage our Nation and our Union than any Democrat ever has!

From January 1995 when the GOP majority was sworn into power through January 2007 when the Democrat's narrow majority took over, the Republicans de-regulated the banks and Wall Street so that the Bush Economic Disaster happened in 2008. Even though in 2007 economists were warning the Bush administration of an impending financial disaster.

DO the Conservatives really think that in a mere two years, America has forgotten which party's policies got us derailed? Careful Conservatives to not count your chickens before they hatch!

VOTE NO IN NOvember for the Party of NO!

May 13, 2010 05:18 pm at 5:18 pm |

Henry Miller, Libertarian

When you betray the American people, they're going to get mad at you. Even Nancy Pelosi ought to be bright enough to figure that out.

May 13, 2010 05:19 pm at 5:19 pm |

LacrosseMom (the real one)

@ truth........... A true Democrat would never have written what you just did. Don't believe ya! Wink.

May 13, 2010 05:19 pm at 5:19 pm |

Marge

Wonder why Bush and the republican enablers in congress(most still there ) didn't scare the hell out of all those republicans and tea bags. After all he started two wars and spend trillions along with billions in surplus. I guess Bonehead thinks things are only supposed to scare the public if Democrats are involved.

If republicans trash and ruin the economy, and the whole darn country according to them it is A.OK. Gee what POS>

May 13, 2010 05:20 pm at 5:20 pm |

Rabb

She could care less. She is in the one safest districts in America – wacky San Fran. Its kind of like what the soldiers said of Patton, Old Bood and Guts. Our blood his guts.

Pelosi is wealthy and powerful so if they lose a bunch of DNC seats I don't think it is going to keep her up at night. I think having private air travel is probobly more important to her.

May 13, 2010 05:22 pm at 5:22 pm |

GI Joe

AND

taxes this year for EVERYONE are the LOWEST since 1950. So stop with the raising taxes lies. I'm so sick of the lies: death panels, raising taxes, kill grandma, -

SHUT UP LYING republicans

May 13, 2010 05:22 pm at 5:22 pm |

Marge

Just goes to show from the post especially from truth, that republicans are the dumbest bunch of ignorant idiots to ever walk in the sun here in America. I think we should lump republicans and tea bags together on a desert island and let the try to govern themselves. Chaos, infighting, hate, violence wonder how long the dumb butts would last. Not long.

May 13, 2010 05:24 pm at 5:24 pm |

Bill in California

I LOVE READING THE LIBS 'BRAVADO' POSTINGS. They are filling their pants while pretending to have everything under control. There's blood in the water and it smells unmistakenly of Dimrat. RIP DIMRATS 2010.

May 13, 2010 05:26 pm at 5:26 pm |

Ken

It is an anit-Liberal anti-RINO anti-more government waist of tax payers dollars and anti-socialist mood. Not sure it will be enough to reverse the damage that it is being done. Will see if the nation survives the Obama, Polosi, Reid destruction.

May 13, 2010 05:26 pm at 5:26 pm |

No More Incumbents

And she and Reid are 2 of the main reasons for it!

May 13, 2010 05:27 pm at 5:27 pm |

wake up

GI Joe pull your head out....

These dems have destroyed and are continuing to destroy this county. Anyone with a true brain and clear head can see that.

The joke of a health care bill that you had to pass it before you know what is in it....remember?? Nancy Pelosi. Now the CBO says they underestimated the cost by $115.00 billion dollars not including the administrative costs....that is just one of the poor examples. What about these radical CZARS? What do you think is going on behind the scenes? Wake UP! Vote the bums out! By the way you people who blame fox news or Rush etc. If you don't like them don't watch or listen. Keep you head in the sand. Boy will you be suprised in November!

May 13, 2010 05:30 pm at 5:30 pm |

Michael

Every time I see Boehner's face on the news it scares the hell out of me.

May 13, 2010 05:34 pm at 5:34 pm |

Duane Bernard, Tucson, Az

"The American people are deeply concerned about Washington Democrats' out-of-control spending spree. And quite frankly, it's just scaring the hell out of them," Boehner said during his weekly press appearance.
If the Republican Administration hadn't distroyed the USA during the Bush years it wouldn't be nessary to spend money repairing the country. If you have a car that you ran for 8 years without putting oil in , checking the brakes, transmission......how much money do you think it might cost to fix it when it breaks down? Or, your house .... let it go for 8 years without fixing and repairing anything on it. How much will it cost to fix it when everything starts to break down?
The Bush and Republican Administration ran the country into the ground and then when Obama is fixing the mess they complain about and for that matter blame him for fixing it.
Unblievable, John Boehner!

May 13, 2010 05:40 pm at 5:40 pm |

Washington has failed us

The comments on this page made by several right and left nutjobs yet again prove there is a big difference between an informed and intelligent opinion and a truly ignorant one worthy of nothing but content. Can't you people come up with anything better than personal insults or playground type attacks???. These issues are serious and deserved seriosu comments. I used ot believe everyone had the right to vote. Having followed several posts on CNN for months, now, I am no longer sure that is safe......

May 13, 2010 05:40 pm at 5:40 pm |

Steve (the real one)

LacrosseMom (the real one) May 13th, 2010 5:18 pm ET

As usual I am amazed at the ignorant comments posted here by conservatives!
-------------–
No ignorant comments from the liberals? Or do you just choose them? Here are but two examples:

"Republicans are led by Fox's Dr. Evil Murdoch, Mini-me Beck and Fat Bastard Hannity, as well as Rush Lardbottom"